It's a rich and diverse lineup that includes a total of 238 fiction and documentary features, including 16 World Premieres, 8 International Premieres, 40 European Premieres and 11 Archive films. Taking place from Wednesday 7 October 2015 to Sunday 18 October 2015 at various venues across London, also included are talks and seminars and special presentations.

The festival opens with the premiere of the eagerly anticipated Suffragette. An all-star cast brings to life the early UK feminist movement as they fought for their right to vote. Carey Mulligan (who is a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination for this role) stars alongside Helen Bonham Carter, Anne-Marie Duff, with a cameo by Meryl Streep. Screenplay by Abi Morgan (The Iron Lady, Shame).

Among the many other films to be shown include:

Trumbo

Bryan Cranston stars as Dalton Trumbo, a screenwriter in 1940's Hollywood who gets blacklisted after he is confirmed to be a Communist. Diane Lane plays his wife while Helen Mirren plays gossip columnist Hedda Hopper.

Bang Gang

One of the most controversial films of the festival about a group of French high school students who start a private orgy society.

High Rise

Adapted from J.G. Ballard's novel of the same name, High Rise stars Tom Hiddleston in a film set in a luxurious high rise tower block that begins to decay almost as soon as it is built.

He Named Me Malala

A documentary about the 18-year old Malala Yousafzai who was shot in the head by the Taliban for championing girls' education in Pakistan.

The Program

Director Stephen Frears brings us the story of disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong (played by Ben Foster) in a documentary-style telling of Armstrong's triumphant Tour de France years to his mighty downfall after his confession of taking drugs to enhance his performance.

Tangerine

A tale of two transsexual hookers on Santa Monica Boulevard and the friendship they have amidst their dangerous profession.

Live from New York

A funny documentary about the long-running American television institution Saturday Night Live, from it's beginnings in 1975 through it's many cast members (some of whom went on to have highly successful movie and television careers).

Black Mass

An unrecognizable Johnny Depp stars in this true story about one of the Boston's most violent criminals (Jimmy Bulger) who became an FBI informant. Also starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Bulger's brother Billy and Joel Edgerton as the FBI agent who persuades Jimmy to turn against the mafia.

The Lobster

This film could win the award for the most far-fetched plot: In the future, single people have to find a partner within 45 days or are then transformed into animals and released into the woods. This one stars Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz. With their very good lucks there is no doubt they will find a match, within one day no doubt.

The Lady in a Van

Dame Maggie Smith stars as a homeless woman who lives in a van parked outside playwright Alan's Bennett's home in the 1960's. Believe it or not it's based on a true story that actually took place in the 1960's, where she ended up staying for 12 years.

Carol tells the simple story of a 1950's department store clerk who falls for another woman. This one stars the can't miss Cate Blanchett, and is directed by Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven). With Rooney Mara.

Truth

Cate Blanchett (again) stars at CBS news producer Mary Mapes, with Robert Redford as anchorman Dan Rather, and their involvement in a story that questioned then President George W. Bush's receiving preferential treatment to help avoid the Vietnam draft.

Sherpa

Documentary about the deteriorating relationship between Sherpas (local people who help expeditions guide their clients up Mt. Everest) and western tourists, arriving just a few days before last year's deadly avalanche that killed 16 sherpa. Timely as well in that sherpas were all but ignored in the recent film 'Everest.'

Room

Brie Larson stars as a woman who has been trapped in a garden shed for seven years after being kidnapped and raped. She then attempts to escape with her five-year old son.

The film festival closes on one of the most eargerly-awaited films of the year - a film called Steve Jobs. Michael Fassbender plays the late Steve Jobs, the man who made Apple a household name. Kate Winslet co-stars as his assistant Joanna Hoffman and Seth Rogen plays apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

There are nine program strands each headlined with a gala, they are: the Love Gala, the Debate Gala, the Dare Gala, the Laugh Gala, the Thrill Gala, the Cult Gala, the Journey Gala, the Sonic Gala, and the Family Gala.

Tim Baros

Tim Baros has worked in the derivatives industry for several large financial institutions in both the U.S. and the U.K, and still has a job in the City, despite the doom and gloom of the industry. Tim enjoys writing and has had articles published in Touch London, Pride Life, SquareMile.com and American Magazine.